Packaged air conditioner hire superyacht projects demand far more than keeping workers comfortable. When a 50m superyacht entered dry dock in Henderson, WA for a full renovation, controlling temperature and humidity wasn’t optional — it was critical to the quality of the rebuild itself. Aircon Rentals delivered across two separate projects, each with its own distinct challenge.
50m — Superyacht length 140kW — Total cooling capacity 100m+ — Premium canvas ducting 6 months — Project duration 2 — Separate projects completed 3 storeys — Vessel height in dry dock
The challenge: temperature and humidity control during a full superyacht refit
The first project was a full renovation of a 50m superyacht in dry dock at Henderson, WA. The vessel stood over three storeys high out of the water, which meant the packaged air conditioning units needed to be mounted on scaffold at the height of the top deck to deliver effective coverage across all working areas.
Two 72kW reverse cycle packaged units were commissioned, providing over 140kW of total cooling capacity. More than 100 metres of premium canvas ducting was run throughout the vessel, fully manoeuvrable to cover different areas at different stages of the renovation as work progressed through the ship.
Temperature control mattered for the crew, but humidity control was critical for the vessel itself. The teak decks were being sanded during the refit — keeping humidity low was essential to ensure the timber did not change shape during the process. If it did, the finish would be compromised and costly rework would follow.
The project ran for six months, spanning from the end of spring through to winter. Aircon Rentals reverse cycle capability of the units proved essential across that range — fresh, cold air was available on hot summer days, and warm air was provided as the project moved towards the winter months, all from the same equipment with no changeover required.
The humidity stayed within the required parameters throughout. The client was exceptionally happy with the results.
The solution: pressurising the yacht to allow parallel inside and outside work
The following year, the same marine group came back with a different vessel. This time the yacht needed to be painted and lacquered on the outside. The location of the dry dock meant the 72kW packaged units used on the first project couldn’t be placed close enough to the vessel to be effective, so a different approach was needed.
After consideration, the Aircon Rentals engineering team developed a pressurisation solution. Box fans were ducted inside the yacht, pressurising the interior of the vessel — the same principle used on commercial aircraft. Fresh air drawn from outside was passed through several filters within the three-phase fans before being introduced into the cabins, keeping fumes and dust from the exterior sanding and repainting out of the interior entirely.
This meant work on refurbishing the inside of the yacht could be undertaken at the same time as the outside was being repaired. The time and cost savings of running both workstreams in parallel were significant — given the costs associated with having ships in dry dock, every day saved was appreciated by the client.
The outcome
Both projects were completed to the client’s specification. Humidity stayed within the required parameters throughout the teak sanding process on the first vessel. The pressurisation solution on the second yacht allowed interior and exterior work to run simultaneously, saving time and reducing dry dock costs. The marine group’s return for a second project speaks for itself.
For more on how we work with the shipping and marine industry, or to explore our full range of reverse cycle package units for hire, see the relevant pages.
What shipyard and marine refit managers can take from this
Humidity control is as important as temperature control during a superyacht refit. Timber components — particularly teak decks — will absorb moisture and change shape if humidity isn’t actively managed during sanding and finishing work.
Reverse cycle packaged units are the right tool for long-duration projects that span multiple seasons. The same equipment heats and cools, eliminating the need to swap out gear mid-project.
When the standard solution won’t work due to access or location constraints, pressurisation is a proven alternative for keeping interiors clean while exterior work is underway — the same principle used in aircraft cabins.
Parallel working saves significant time and money in dry dock. If interior and exterior work can run simultaneously, the vessel spends fewer days out of the water. A custom engineering approach is sometimes necessary — marine refits rarely fit a standard template.
Having a plan for climate control before a refit begins — including ventilation requirements — can prevent costly delays mid-project.
Need packaged air conditioner hire for a superyacht or marine refit project? Aircon Rentals operates 24/7 across Australia. Call 1800 626 996 or enquire online.
